Chevy has unvealed their new 2015 Colorado and it came with a whopper - a new diesel engine will be offered in 2016. Along with new styling, this new midsize truck should be a strong competitor.
The Chevy Colorado fills GM's marketing plan of having a small, medium and large truck. It is 6 inches narrower, 18 inches shorter, 3 inches lower and nearly 1,000 lbs lighter than the larger Silverado. It has a much more sporty styling and has dropped some of the square looks of past models. The smaller truck shares some of the larger trucks innovations like the tailgate step, aluminum hood, triple sealing on doors for quiet ride and instrument panel upgrades with 8-inch navigation screen with the MyLink system. [more]
As exciting as the styling changes are is the news of a diesel engine offering. Coming in 2016, the 2.8L, 4-cyl "baby" Duramax diesel engine will most likely have 200 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque. If it follow the Ram's EcoDiesel offering, the engine will have an upcharge of several thousand dollars yet it will have superior low-end torque and MPGs. The Colorado will also come with a base 2.5L, 4-cyl engine rated at 193 HP and 184 lb-ft of torque as well as a 3.6L V-6 with 302 HP and 207 lb-ft of torque.
GM has decided to offer just three trim levels - a WT (work truck), LT and Z71. Also, it will be offered with a 5-foot or 6-foot bed in either an extended cab or crew cab (no regular cab). The lack of choices might work to their benefit with less consumer confusion.
Currently, the Toyota Tacoma dominates the market. GM says it will try to cut into that market share as well as try to attract Ram and Ford customers looking for a midsize option. It also plans on filling a void for a midsize fleet truck since the Ranger left the market.
The truck will probably be offered at under $20k to create a price gap between it and the larger Silverado. Expecations are that it will get fuel economy in the mid 20s with the diesel possibly hitting the high 20s or 30.

On November 14th, a 360-degree barrel roll was caught on tape at an event in Ensenada, Mexico. What's the big deal? Well, this may be the first 360 barrel roll done by a truck that has ever been successful and caught on tape. Whether it is or is not, it is very impressive. Baja 1000 racer Adrian "Wildman" Cenni makes a clean jump and sticks the landing. His nickname definitely makes sense now! So, would you ever have the guts to ever try something similar to this or would you like to keep all four wheels on the ground? Check out the video by clicking through. [more]
Via Autoblog

It’s often said that racing is a gentleman’s sport, but this past weekend Kyle Busch proved this was, indeed, incorrect. You see, Busch has a temper, so much so that it seemingly gets him into hot water just about everywhere he goes. For instance, this past weekend at Texas Motor Speedway Busch intentionally plowed fellow driver Ron Hornaday’s truck into the wall after he was rubbed by Hornaday just moments earlier. The contact was simply malicious and because of this NASCAR suspended him from Friday’s race as well as the weekend's races in the Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup series.

So, the question is this; should Kyle Busch, a man with known malicious behavior towards other drivers, be booted from racing altogether, OR should he be allowed to continue because he adds an element of unpredictability to the sport? Whatcha’ think? Video after the jump!

Not from racing, maybe from the rest of the season from all 3 series' since it's only 2 more left in Cup and Nationwide and 1 left in Trucks. I'm all for equal and fair retaliation under green, but not doing some of the stuff Kyle has done in the past, most under caution. He crossed the line when he did that to Ron, no need to plow into the back of someone else and gun it until they wreck to have them hit head on into the wall so hard Ron's shoulder popped out of place. the thing is, it's not like this was the only thing, he's known for over reacting and reacting like a kid time after time. NASCAR has actually been easy on Kyle in the past and actually this weekend if you compare it to if Kyle did that in F1, IndyCar, NHRA or other major racing.

Id say yes, the guys a f*cking id!ot, going that fast it doesn't take that much to kill somebody, to bad it wasn't him. Like the OP said racing for some is classified as a gentlemans sport, I guess if we keep him in for unpredictability, soon enough were going to create our own sport version of "Death Race".

Kyle Busch is an entitled crybaby and a poopy-pants whiner. But he shouldn't be banned. I'm happy to see him continue bringing disgrace on himself and on the entire Toyota racing organization. Plus if we banned everyone who ever wrecked anyone else intentionally then three-quarters of the good drivers would be gone (Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Brad Keselowski, etc, etc). Clearly though, it's obvious that NASCAR can't officially abide by this kind of crap, and it's scary that drivers feel so invincible within the new cars and don't realize that this is a good way to get themselves and others hurt and/or killed. The recent rash of motorsports deaths should've been a wake-up call, and drivers need to self-regulate a little better.

Jen - I think just about every driver has given payback and some point, but so far nobody (even Dale Sr.) has done some of the stupid stuff under caution or even under green that Kyle has done. Ron Hornaday said to NASCAR after or during the Truck race that if they don't punish him like they should that he'll go to Kyle's house and beat his ass. Kyle thinks he's the most important driver out there and thinks he's the only one that wants to win. He also has that mentality that it's ok for him to do something, but God forbid someone else does. So eh thinks he can do whatever he wants. If you look at the M&Ms website on the racing page, they actually took Kyle off under the crew. So maybe M&Ms (Mars Inc) is thinking about dropping their sponsorship, or they're embarrassed that they're on his car.

I just read that Kyle was just fined and put on probation for the rest of this year. This is what it says: NASCAR has fined Kyle Busch $50,000 and placed him on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31 for his actions during the Nov. 4 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. Kyle Busch violated Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the 2011 NASCAR Rule Book. NASCAR took immediate action, parking Busch for the remainder of Friday night's event and maintaining the parked position for the NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway. On Monday, the parking directive was lifted by NASCAR. In issuing Monday's penalty, NASCAR went on to say that "if during the remaining NASCAR events in 2011 there is another action by the competitor that is deemed by NASCAR officials as detrimental to stock car racing or to NASCAR, or is disruptive to the orderly conduct of an event, the competitor will be suspended indefinitely from NASCAR."(NASCAR)(11-7-2011)

Personally I'm of the mind frame that racing is one of those sports where we don't need an idiot intentionally jeopardizing someones life. This is a race, if someone pisses you off pass them. In most professional sports when someone pisses you off you usually get back by besting them, in football, someone tackles you, so next time you out run them, in basketball someone blocks you so next time you place a better shot. Stick to the rules of the sport.

Nascar is interesting in its enforcement. The fact that he took out someone under caution who was in the points race should carry weight but I don't think a indefinite ban would be necessary. Kyle Busch is a weird one to watch, it seems like every time it looks like he has turned the corner something like this happens. Drivers keep a record of who they owe one and I imagine down the road someone will punt him in a race. What may hurt him most is the economics, he could lose sponsorship or even his ride from something like this.

"Don't push the Busch!" ;) Kyle could have had it all, and now he doesn't have anything so show after a year's worth of hard work. He cost his team and sponsors a title by losing his temper once again. If he doesn't learn his lesson on this stupid move, then I'm not sure he ever will. While his behavior is reckless, NASCAR has a hockey style mentality. If NASCAR doesn't want to change its way of thinking, and create more stringent rules, then why would the drivers?

6SpeedPaz - If NASCAR does get to forceful with too many rules, over time it would just turn int F1. Which is one of the main reasons that some people watch NASCAR but can't stand F1 or IndyCar, is the tough rules. NASCAR said Kyle is on probation for the rest of the year which isn't long. But, if he does anything to break probation NASCAR will suspend Kyle indefinitely. Kyle has done too much shit, so this wasn't just a 1 time thing that he's done.

Absoutely YES, ban from racing. Not because of rules and such or making NASCAR a wimp sport, but because he deliberately smashed someones car under a yellow. That yellow light means "Caution", not "Time to hit somebody deliberately" and destroy their expensive and precision built car.
Bad temper doesn't belong in racing.

I'd agree on the probation, and in losing the rest of the season if probation were broken if this happened under green, but under yellow? That was an idiot move regardless, risking lives and certainly deliberately damaging another team's property. Under yellow, there's no saying what might be going on 100 yards down the track. There could be emergency crews or track personnel doing something on the tarmac down the way that he couldn't see from his position.
Kick him out.
(...and Kyle/M&M are my team. He can be replaced.)

That was TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE behavior for ANY racer no matter the level. His one act of immaturity has brushed NASCAR with a negative color.
The of possibly KILLING a fellow racer on purpose would be 2nd degree murder in my book.
Banned for 2 years at the very minimum.

Protodelorean I like your idea. Ron could just drive around waiting for the little prick and them crash him. Under green flag racing of course. Just like his brother he has the mentality that the rules apply to every one but him.

Kyle should be banned from the races for the rest of the year and the opening races next year. Also hit him up with a million dollar personal fine.
This is strike number two. He has done it before in the cars. They suspended him then. So strike three your out.
Nascar needs to think about the safety of the drivers and the fans. What if this truck went into the fence throwing debris at the fans.
Kyle Busch is an ass. They better hit him with soem serious penalty's He is hitting below the belt the bully.

I don't watch oval track racing. Is this behavior common? Even if there hadn't been deaths in the sport recently, this behavior should be stomped on. There was intent on injury. He should be banned from the sport. I like contact and some crashes like the next guy, but this if bogus and should be dealt with. Green flag or yellow it's something that shouldn't be done.

I guess I would like to see people including some road ragers who hurt people have actually get out of their cars and physically deal with the other person (if that person wanted to). I see quite a few weiners that like to push people around but if they had to get out and back it up, they would piss their pants. I guess my recommendation would be that if he does it again he gets banned from a chase race next year if he is in contention or banned for the season if he isn't.

Great posts. I race Motocross. If someone hits me in a turn. I make it my directive the rest of the race to BEAT HIM ON THE TRACK! I don't cry and t-bone him in the next corner,,,HORRIBLE!!! May the best man WIN. (didn't we all see a man die recently due to a crash?) Make an example out of him for all sports, ban his ass. I'm sure there is a line of people that would love the chance to take his seat,,,and race.

I say let them race, a little rivalry is just good for the fans. I mean if we took out everybody who ever crashed we'd loose the ones we now call legends. If his last name was Earnhardt or Petty he wouldn't even get called out on it.

I agree with most of the posters here, but $50,000 is pocket change to this guy. What he needs is a good old fashioned ass whoopin'.
If this boy were racing back in the day and had pulled this kind of stunt on Junior Johnson or David Pearson, they would have beat him till his eyeballs bled.
Truly, I am not a violent person. But in this case, Kyle needs his bell rung, hard.
How about a new rule for NASCAR? If someone purposely tries to cause you injury, you get to beat them until you are tired or they cry like a little girl, whichever comes first.

Wouldn't this be considered vehicular assault for anyone driving on a public road? He's a cry baby and there are plenty of great drivers that would love the chance to be where he is at. He should be gone

Racing is a dangerous sport and drivers know this and accept the risk. Accidents happen, that is part of racing BUT his actions were intentional and that is not part of racing. The fact that this was done under a caution is inexcusable if emergency workers had been on the track and been killed due to his actions I would expect manslaughter charges at minimum.

Is it just me, or does Kyle remind you of J.P. From the Movie Grandma's Boy? He acts like J.P. as well. All he needs is an ass-whuppin to bring him back down to Earth. Once he gets his ass handed to him on a silver platter, he wont do these things again. If he does do them again after the ass whuppin, then its time to ban the guy.

I'm not a NASCAR fan but after watching this video and reading everyone's opinion, I think he is too cocky and needs his ass kicked. Seems to me that he did it knowing that he could get away with it without serious consequences to follow. He is a Bitch, and they (bitches) are known for pulling stupid shit from time to time.

hornaday ran his ass into the wall in the first place, hornaday should have been on the brakes, he went into that turn way too hot. i'd be pissed too if i was kyle. he should have been more patient though, and waited 'til the green flag dropped so he could have made it look like an accident and not taken himself out... earnhardt style.
i'm not jumping on the "ban" wagon with the rest of you guys. nascar is boring without a hothead like busch on the track. the suspensions he is getting are good enough, and hornaday will think twice next time he drives busch into wall like that. it's not like busch went out there and did this unprovoked.

Kyle Busch should be band from all NASCAR sanctions and events. Joe Gibbs should fire Kyle Busch from JGRacing as soon as possible. Kyle Busch could have killed Ron Hornaday with that stupid stunt. But we all know all NASCAR is going to do is give the little baby Kyle Busch a slap on the wrist. All NASCAR will do is fine him and put him on probation for several months into the new season next year. We all know that is the truth.

Maybe not permanent ban but I say atleast two years from all series.. If you dont show him and others that this kinda bs wont be tolerated then the next guy wont think twice. This could lead to the loss of a drivers life..
Then all you people that say let em race or forget about it, would wish they had gave him a long term ban. You folks dont know what its like being in a crash at 100 . Its very easy for something horrible to happen and a driver be unable to walk away.. This is more serious then many of you fathom..

Risking peoples lives??????
Are they not at greater risk of dying when racing full out and getting hit/crashing !
You guy's want someone banned because he purposely caused a car crash, then you should definitely ban any idiot who pushes things beyond his driving limit and cars handling (doesn't respect either limit) and "Accidentally" causes a car crash.
They must have rules against this sort of thing and he should be sanctioned according to the rules.
I am sorry after reading some of the posts I can't get over the ignorantly stupid mentality some people have of -If you didn't mean to do it that makes it OK. I say it makes it worse . Someone hit's my car they might as well run over my pet or rape a family member and then to say I didn't mean to it was an "accident" makes it even worse.
The word accident should be removed from car vocabulary, any time cars crash, race or road someone did something stupid (including not maintaining the vehicle), "sorry I didn't see you there" means I wasn't looking. "I thought it fit there" means I am an IDIOT and should walk around wearing a helmet.
In some countries if you cause an "accident" (I call it an "on purpose caused by ignorance and stupidity") people will pull you out of the car and beat your ass, it should be the same way here in North America, I bet then people would pay attention.
Bottom line he broke the rules showed unsportsmanlike conduct and should be sanctioned for it accordingly . Anyone who want's to talk about how dangerous this was and how he's risking peoples lives and have nothing to say about the 1000's of crashes that happen a year at higher speeds during green flags are exactly what's wrong with society, no ability to see the bigger picture, ignorance prevails. You have a problem with someone hitting the wall at 140mph (because it was caused on purpose) but when it happens at 180-200 mph (by "Accident") you have no problem with it (what do you thing happens when car and driver are pushed to the limits to win, they crash, that's the inevitable outcome, sanctioned auto racing knows it, the drivers know it ... and that no longer make it an "accident").

I don't think a ban should be necessary. I say this for a few reasons. 1) Any sponsor with half a brain should have dropped him the instant they heard about this. Kinda hard to race with no sponsors. 2) I'm not sure what sort of waivers, contracts, etc., are involved in racing, but unless there's some agreement in place that prohibits lawsuits, this sort of flagrant assault on another driver should certainly result in Busch getting his ass sued to Hell and back. 3) I don't care WHAT safety measures are in those vehicles, intentionally putting another driver into the wall at 130 MPH certainly looks like attempted homicide to me. Kinda hard to race from a prison cell.